Michigan State Offers Scholarship to 3-Star Defensive Lineman

Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith continues his plan of building the Spartans' defensive line.

Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith’s plan for the foundational years of his tenure in East Lansing is to build the team through a strong defense, specifically a solid defensive line. Coach Smith has offered scholarships to multiple three-star defensive linemen nationwide. The latest on that list is Samuel Cohen from Richmond, Virginia.

Cohen recently announced his scholarship offer from MSU on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"I am extremely excited and blessed to say that I have received an offer from Michigan State University!!,” Cohen said.

He marks one of the highest-rated recruits the Spartans have offered a scholarship to. 

The Spartans have focused on building a stout defense, as many of their most prized recruits are along the defensive line. According to 247Sports, Cohen is ranked as the 48th-best  defensive lineman in the 2025 recruiting class. The defensive lineman can be an impact player for Coach Smith and the Spartans. MSU had one of the worst rushing defenses in the Big Ten last season, which is part of the reason Coach Smith and the Spartans are focusing so heavily on the position group. 

College football is all about competition, and the Spartans will compete with many other notable programs around the country for Cohen’s services. According to 247Sports, the defensive lineman already has over ten scholarship offers. The defensive lineman has also received offers from schools such as Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Louisville and Virginia Tech.

MSU plans first to build up its defense with quality recruits while adding players from the transfer portal familiar with Coach Smith’s offense, which could be the quickest way for the Spartans to improve their win total. This would enhance their recruiting as the Smith era begins in East Lansing. Things change fast in college football. The Spartans can quickly make their way up the Big Ten charts, as the conference only has a few consistently good programs. 

However, MSU will need strong recruiting classes before that can become a reality. The first step, though, will be for Coach Smith and his coaching staff to find a way to solidify the best talent they possibly can. The Spartans are taking a logical approach to their recruiting, but recruiting, much like the game of football itself, is all about execution.

The Spartans will have to find a way to successfully secure mid-level recruits and not hinge their hopes of a competitive future mainly on the shoulders of the potential of unranked and low-ranked players.

The Michigan State Spartan Football Spring Green and White Game (Spartan Showcase) will be held at the High Cathedral of the Spartan Nation, Spartan Stadium, on April 20, 2024, at 2 p.m.

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